A Parents Guide To Toy Safety In The UK
by: Hellen
Total views: 71
Word Count: 819
If you are a parent, there is no better way to protect your children from potentially dangerous toys than by having a good knowledge of toy safety legislation in the UK. The UK and Europe enjoys some of the strictest standards in the world for toy safety and any toy that conforms to these will be safe for your child.
The UK's Toy (Safety) Regulations came into force on January 1, 1990. These requirements were again updated in 1995 with the introduction of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995 (Statutory Instrument 1995 No. 204) and these are the regulations that remain in place today.
For the most part, the regulations have been very successful and less than 1.5% of household accidents in the UK involve toys. What is more, it is very rare that the accident is caused by a defect in the toy itself. Most accidents involving toys involve people tripping over them.
However, the toy safety regulations in the UK do not absolutely guarantee the safety of a toy, only that it should meet certain safety standards. Because of this, there is a certain onus on parents to use common sense when buying and using toys.
As a parent, one thing you should constantly be on the look out for is toy recalls. While these are not so common, they can happen when a dangerous toy slips through the net. If you think you have a toy that has been subject to a recall, make sure it is taken out of your children's reach immediately.
Labels
From a parent's point of view, one of the most useful and important requirements of the toy safety regulations is the obligation for manufacturers to put clear labels and warnings on toys. These can provide peace of mind that a toy is safe and also help shoppers to choose the right toy for the right age group.
Here are some of the labels you should look out for:
The CE marking - For a new toy to be sold in the UK, or anywhere in the EU, it must bear the CE marking. This is not really intended as a safety marking for consumers but does signify that the toy has passed the required European safety standards. It also states that toys bearing this mark can move freely and be sold within the European market.
The Lion Mark logo - Unlike the CE marking, the Lion Mark logo is intended as a safety mark for consumers. The logo was developed by the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) in 1988 and it now appears on 95 per cent of children's toys sold in Britain. All toys bearing this mark will have been manufactured to meet very high safety standards.
The Approved Lion Mark logo - Members of the Toy Retailers Association (TRA) follow an almost identical code of practice that allows them to display an Approved Lion Mark sign on the premises. They may still sell toys that do not bear the Lion Mark logo in their shops, but all the toys in their shop will have the same high safety standards.
Age warning labels
UK toy safety regulations provide strict guidelines about how toys should be labeled with age warnings. All toys not intended for children under 36 months need to bear a warning, such as ‘Not suitable for children under 36 months’ or ‘Not suitable for children under three years' by law. This written warning can be replaced by a pictogram. The reason why the toy is unsafe for this age group must be stated in the toy's instructions or on the packaging.
Even when it is not required by law, manufacturers will usually give an indication of the age group a toy is intended for. This can help you choose the right toy for the right age group and can help you to keep toys organised in the home.
Toys can also bear other kinds of warning labels. For example, the instructions of many outdoor toys like swings and slides must come with clear instructions on when and how to maintain the toy. Meanwhile, toys for use in water must come with certain warnings.
Because of this, it is essential that you always read the instructions carefully yourself before you allow you child to play with any toy. Also be careful if you have children of different ages. Keep toys seperate so that toys intended for older children do not get into the hands of a baby or a toddler.
In general, it pays to be neat and tidy. Having toys strewn around the home is a common cause of accidents. Also, be sure to carry out all maintenance of toys, such as changing batteries, yourself.
UK toy safety regulations provide excellent protection for your child from dangerous or poorly made children's toys. However, you should always check toys yourself and examine they are sturdily constructed, have no loose parts, or have no sharp corners or edges.
Author: Gary Clay
www.TheWritersOnline.com
(Read or Write Your Way to Big Success)
About the Author
Gary Clay is an expert on traditional toys and owner of stylish kids store Monkeyshine a retailer of quality children's toys, furniture, storage and more. http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk
Rating: Not yet rated